Most of the definitions given below were taken from the Multi-Language Glossary of Permafrost and Related Ground-Ice Terms
(van Everdingen, 1998). This source should be consulted for more extensive definitions. Updates, modifications, or new
definitions are indicated by inclusion of additional references.

Active Layer

The layer of ground subject to annual thawing and freezing in areas underlain by permafrost

Active-layer Detachment Slide

Shallow landslides that develop in permafrost areas, involving reduction in effective stress and strength at the contact between a thawing overburden and underlying frozen material. Active-layer detachment slides can occur in response to high seasonal air temperature, summer rainfall events, rapid melting of snowcover, or surface disturbances See Lewkowicz (1992).

Active-layer Thickness

The thickness of the layer of ground subject to annual thawing and freezing in areas underlain by permafrost (cf. thaw depth) See Nelson and Hinkel (2003).

Alas

A large depression of the ground surface produced by thawing of a large area (e.g., > 1 ha) of very thick and exceedingly ice-rich permafrost.

Cryoturbation

A collective term used to describe all soil movements due to frost action.

Irregular structures formed in earth materials by frost penetration and frost action processes, and characterized by folded, broken, and dislocated beds and lenses of unconsolidated deposits, included organic horizons, or bedrock.

Degree-day

A derived unit of measurement used to express the departure of the mean temperature for a day from a given reference temperature. Also see freezing index and thawing index.

Depth Of Zero Annual Amplitude

The distance from the ground surface downward to the level beneath which there is practically no annual fluctuation in ground temperature.

Excess Ice

The volume of ice in the ground that exceeds the total pore volume that the ground would have under natural unfrozen conditions.

Freeze-thaw Cycle

Freezing of material, followed by thawing. The two fundamental frequencies involved are diurnal and annual.

Freezing Index

The cumulative number of degree-days below 0oC for a given time period (usually seasonal).

Frost Action

The process of alternate freezing and thawing of moisture in soil, rock, and other materials, and the resulting effects on materials and on structures placed on or in the ground.

Frost Creep

The net downslope displacement that occurs when a soil, during a freeze-thaw cycle, expands perpendicular to the ground surface and settles in a nearly vertical direction.

Frost Heave

The upward or outward movement of the ground surface (or objects on or in the ground) caused by the formation of ice in the soil.

Frost Mound

Any mound-shaped landform produced by ground freezing, combined with accumulation of ground ice due to groundwater movement or migration of soil moisture. Also see Nelson et al. (1992).

Frost Penetration

The movement of a freezing front into the ground during freezing.

Frost Susceptible Soil

Subsurface earth materials in which segregated ice will form (causing frost heave) under the required conditions of moisture supply and temperature.

Frozen Ground

Soil or rock in which part or all of the pore water has turned into ice.

Gas Hydrate

A special form of solid clathrate compound in which crystal lattice cages or chambers, consisting of host molecules, enclose guest molecules.

Gelifluction

The slow downslope flow of unfrozen earth materials over a frozen substrate. Also see solifluction.

Geocryology

The study of earth materials and processes involving temperatures of 0oC or below.

Geothermal Gradient

The rate of temperature increase with depth below the ground surface.

Ground Ice

A general term referring to all types of ice contained in freezing and frozen ground.

High-center Polygon

An ice-wedge polygon in which melting of the surrounding ice wedges has left the central area in a relatively elevated position.

The ratio of the freezing or thawing index at the ground surface to that derived from air temperature records.

Palsas

Permafrost mounds ranging from about 0.5 to about 10 m in height and exceeding about 2 m in average diameter, comprising (1) aggradation forms and (2) degradation forms. The term ?palsa? is a descriptive term to which an adjectival modifier prefix can be attached to indicate formative processes. See Washburn (1983) and Nelson et al. (1992).

Patterned Ground

A general term for any ground surface exhibiting a discernibly ordered, more or less sysmmetrical, morphological pattern of ground and, where present, vegetation.

The conditions, processes, and landforms associated with cold, nonglacial environments, regardless of proximity to past or present glaciers.

Permafrost

Earth materials that remains continuously at or below 0oC for at least two consecutive years.

Permafrost, Continuous

Regions in which permafrost occurs nearly everywhere beneath the exposed land surface. At the circumpolar scale the term continuous permafrost zone refers to a broad area, crudely conformable with latitude, in which permafrost is laterally continuous. See Nelson and Outcalt (1987).

Permafrost, Discontinuous

Regions in which permafrost is laterally discontinuous owing to heterogeneity of material properties, subsurface water, and surface cover.

Permafrost, Dry

Permafrost containing neither free water nor ice.

Permafrost, Ice-rich

Permafrost containing excess ice.

Pingo

A perennial frost mound consisting of a core of massive ice produced primarily by injection of water, and covered with soil and vegetation.

Retrogressive Thaw Slump

A slope failure resulting from thawing if ice-rich permafrost.

Seasonally Frozen Ground

Ground that freezes and thaws annually.

Solifluction

A general term referring to the slow downslope flow of saturated unfrozen earth materials over an impermeable substrate (cf. gelifluction).

The instantaneous depth below the ground surface to which seasonal thaw has penetrated (cf. active-layer thickness). See Nelson and Hinkel (2003).

Thaw Lake

A lake whose basin was formed or enlarged by thawing of frozen ground. Hopkins (1949), Washburn (1980, 271).

Thaw Settlement

Compression of the ground due to loss of excess ground ice and attendant thaw consolidation.

Thawing Index (DDT)

The cumulative number of degree-days above 0oC for given time period (usually seasonal).

Thermal Conductivity

The quantity of heat that will flow through a unit area of a substance in unit time under a unit temperature gradient. In permafrost investigations thermal conductivity is usually expressed in W m-1 oC-1

Thermal Erosion

Erosion of ice-bearing permafrost by the combined thermal and mechanical action of moving water.

Thermal Offset

Temperature depression in the upper layer of permafrost, resulting from the combined effects of seasonal differences of thermal conductivity and the operation of nonconductive processes in the active layer. See Williams and Smith (1989) and Nelson et al. (1985). See Goodrich (1982).